The Premiership race now enters the final straight and the excitement remains intense with the closest run in to the end of the season since the game turned professional. The top three clubs all have the same number of points but Harlequins prevail by their superior point’s difference over Leicester .Both clubs have won more matches than third placed Bath. Gloucester and London Irish and Sale are all still well in the mix, with the six separated but just six points. Fingers up and down the country will be chewed to the quick over the next three weeks when the regular season ends. Of course the current top three clubs also still have the small matter of a Heineken Cup quarter final to enjoy next weekend. The top of the table will become a little less congested on Saturday evening, as four of top six play against each other the other match being Leicester v Sale.

This week’s Premiership Table is a thing of beauty;

Harlequins moved to the top of the table, after they put ten tries past a very underpowered Worcester team at The Stoop on Wednesday night. The Warriors have had a wretched week, from two games they have shipped 97 points, and next up  face Saracens  side who can still achieve a Heineken Cup place next season, whilst Worcester can still be relegated, which would seem deserved after their very poor disciplinary performance at The Stoop.

The seemingly impossible dream came true on Wednesday evening, with Quins set a target of a bonus point win with a thirty point plus difference. The bonus point win was realistic by when Worcester announced an effectively second sting side the impossible began to seem inevitable.

As we know supporting Harlequins is does not pay to be an optimist. From the kick off it was clear to see how both teams had prepared for this match, Quins with their rapid attack, Worcester with their over physical defence. Following their try after five minutes Quins saw their early grasp of the game dwindle and it took an equalising try from Worcester to shake out their complacency   as they realised that they had to work for their victory. Two further tries by Quins in six minutes saw them almost reach the bonus before half time, but another riposte early in the second half saw Worcester pull back another seven points. Quins stepped up another gear and then motored away to clock up seven second half try’s, in front of the ecstatic home support, in full voice.

Quins opponent this week Bath, were also in action on Wednesday night when they put paid to any hope of Wasp’s securing qualification to next season’s Heineken Cup. Bath won 22-14 to keep up their claim on a top four place, by moving up to third place. The game was marred by a serious injury to the Bath Captain Michael Lipman. Despite being discharged from hospital it is unlikely he will feature in this week’s game. Bath ran out worthy winners, which can be attributed to a massive performance from their pack, something Quins will have to provide an effective counter. The Bath pack was ferocious after the break and Wasps were forced to endure some robust defence of their early narrow lead, before Fa’amatuainu wheeled off the base of the scrum to put the home side ahead and take the game

The match on Saturday will be Bath’s third game in eight days. Prior to this run of matches, Bath Coach Meehan got himself in a lather when he said, “it’s tough. To finish with the Quins game, which could be the most difficult of them all, is a really hard task. It is not just three matches in such a short space of time but it is what we ve come off the back of – The games against Newcastle and Saracens were really physical encounters” Quins. In their five games Bath have recorded WLWLW, Quins in comparison  WWLWW. Quins have lost just twice on the road since the start of this year, against Newcastle and Wasps. Both clubs will have had barely had three days to prepare their tired squads from their midweek encounters, for a match that both teams will be targeting as a must win. Meehan has rested a few key men and has banked everything on Bath winning their two homes games this week, he is half way there.

Historically the Quins v Bath fixture has thrown up some great matches over the years and this one is expected to be another n that sequence. When the two sides met back in November it was Quins who prevailed chalking up a 21-14 win. There is no doubt that this will be a tough match for both sides, as the Spoils are well worth fighting for.  The winners of the game will take a substantial step towards the play offs. The losers will probably have to win their last two matches to have a chance of making the top four Quins face Sale away and Newcastle at home whilst Bath play  Newcastle away followed by Saracens at home.

As we’ve seen all season anything can happen, let us hope the euphoria of the win on Wednesday will carry us through as we sink Bath. If we want to realise the dream we have to win our next three Premiership Games. 

Come on You Quins!

The other matches this weekend are:

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